Peter Byrne tells the story of Hugh Everett III (1930-1982), whose "many worlds" theory of multiple universes has had a profound impact on physics and philosophy. Using Everett's unpublished papers (recently discovered in his son's basement) and dozens of interviews with his friends, colleagues, and surviving family members, Byrne paints, for the general reader, a detailed portrait of the genius who invented an astonishing way of describing our complex universe from the inside. Everett's mathematical model (called the "universal wave function") treats all possible events as "equally real", and concludes that countless copies of every person and thing exist in all possible configurations spread over an infinity of universes: many worlds. Afflicted by depression and addictions, Everett strove to bring rational order to the professional realms in which he played historically significant roles. In addition to his famous interpretation of quantum mechanics, Everett wrote a classic paper in game theory; created computer algorithms that revolutionized military operations research; and performed pioneering work in artificial intelligence for top secret government projects. He wrote the original software for targeting cities in a nuclear hot war; and he was one of the first scientists to recognize the danger of nuclear winter. As a Cold Warrior, he designed logical systems that modeled "rational" human and machine behaviors, and yet he was largely oblivious to the emotional damage his irrational personal behavior inflicted upon his family, lovers, and business partners. He died young, but left behind a fascinating record of his life, including correspondence with such philosophically inclined physicists as Niels Bohr, Norbert Wiener, and John Wheeler. These remarkable letters illuminate the long and often bitter struggle to explain the paradox of measurement at the heart of quantum physics. In recent years, Everett's solution to this mysterious problem - the existence of a universe of universes - has gained considerable traction in scientific circles, not as science fiction, but as an explanation of physical reality.
**
Game Theory
General
Physics
Modern
Quantum Theory
Mathematics
Science
History
Science & Technology
Biography & Autobiography
20th Century
Linguistics
Language Arts & Disciplines
Philosophy & Social Aspects
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Contents 8
Forewords 12
Book 1: Beginnings 16
Introduction: The Story of Q 18
1 Family Origins: a Sketch 25
2 Katharine: the Dark Star 32
3 The Scientist as a Young Man 40
4 Stranger in Paradise 57
Book 2: Game World 68
5 Demigods 70
6 Decisions, Decisions—the Theory of Games 76
7 Origin of MAD 83
8 Von Neumann's Legacy 87
Book 3: Quantum World 94
9 Quantum Everett 96
10 More on the Measurement Problem 107
11 Collapse and Complementarity 117
12 The Philosophy of Quantum Mechanics 124
Book 4: Everett and Wheeler 130
13 Wheeler: the Radical Conservative 132
14 Genesis of Many Worlds 146
15 Alone in the Room 151
16 Tour of Many Worlds 159
17 The Battle with Copenhagen, Part I 175
18 The Battle with Copenhagen, Part II 184
19 The Chapel Hill Affair 193
Book 5: Possible World Futures 200
20 Preparing for World War III 202
21 From Wargasm to Looking Glass 210
22 Fallout 217
Book 6: Crossroads 222
23 A Bell Jar World 224
24 A Vacation in Copenhagen 231
Book 7: Assured Destruction 240
25 Everett and Report 50 242
26 Everett and the SIOP 253
Book 8: Transitions 262
27 Behind Closed Doors 264
28 Death' s Other Kingdoms 277
Book 9: Beltway Bandit 290
29 Weaponeering 292
30 The Bayesian Machine 302
31 The Death of Lambda 307
Book 10: Many Worlds Reborn 314
32 DeWitt to the Rescue 316
33 Records in Time 329
34 Austin 336
35 Wheeler Recants 341
Book 11: American Tragedy 350
36 The Final Years 352
37 Aftermath 364
Book 12: Everett's Legacy 372
38 Modern Everett 374
39 Everett goes to Oxford 388
Epilogue: Beyond Many Worlds 400
Glossary 404
A 404
B 404
C 404
D 405
E 405
F 405
G 406
H 406
I 406
L 406
M 406
N 407
O 407
P 407
Q 407
R 407
S 408
T 409
U 409
V 409
W 409
Acknowledgments 410
Bibliography 414
Index 432
A 432
B 432
C 433
D 434
E 435
F 437
G 438
H 439
I 439
J 439
K 439
L 440
M 440
N 442
O 443
P 444
Q 446
R 446
S 447
T 449
U 449
V 450
W 450
X 451
Y 451
Z 451

upload/motw_shc_2025_10/shc/The Many Worlds of Hugh Everett - Peter Byrne.pdf

motw/The Many Worlds of Hugh Everett - Peter Byrne.pdf

0199552274.pdf

IRL Press at Oxford University Press

Oxford Institute for Energy Studies

German Historical Institute London

United Kingdom and Ireland, United Kingdom

New York, New York State, 2010

Oxford ; New York, c2010

Illustrated, 1, PS, 2010

producers:
Acrobat Distiller 6.0 (Windows)

Memory of the World Librarian: Calamitous Annunciation

Includes bibliographical references (p. [399]-416)and index.

Peter Byrne Tells The Story Of Hugh Everett Iii (1930-1982), Whose Many Worlds Theory Of Multiple Universes Has Had A Profound Impact On Physics And Philosophy. Using Everett's Unpublished Papers (recently Discovered In His Son's Basement) And Dozens Of Interviews With His Friends, Colleagues, And Surviving Family Members, Byrne Paints, For The General Reader, A Detailed Portrait Of The Genius Who Invented An Astonishing Way Of Describing Our Complex Universe From The Inside. Everett's Mathematical Model (called The Universal Wave Function) Treats All Possible Events As Equally Real, And Concludes That Countless Copies Of Every Person And Thing Exist In All Possible Configurations Spread Over An Infinity Of Universes: Many Worlds. Afflicted By Depression And Addictions, Everett Strove To Bring Rational Order To The Professional Realms In Which He Played Historically Significant Roles.^ In Addition To His Famous Interpretation Of Quantum Mechanics, Everett Wrote A Classic Paper In Game Theory; Created Computer Algorithms That Revolutionized Military Operations Research; And Performed Pioneering Work In Artificial Intelligence For Top Secret Government Projects. He Wrote The Original Software For Targeting Cities In A Nuclear Hot War; And He Was One Of The First Scientists To Recognize The Danger Of Nuclear Winter. As A Cold Warrior, He Designed Logical Systems That Modeled Rational Human And Machine Behaviors, And Yet He Was Largely Oblivious To The Emotional Damage His Irrational Personal Behavior Inflicted Upon His Family, Lovers, And Business Partners. He Died Young, But Left Behind A Fascinating Record Of His Life, Including Correspondence With Such Philosophically Inclined Physicists As Niels Bohr, Norbert Wiener, And John Wheeler.^ These Remarkable Letters Illuminate The Long And Often Bitter Struggle To Explain The Paradox Of Measurement At The Heart Of Quantum Physics. In Recent Years, Everett's Solution To This Mysterious Problem-the Existence Of A Universe Of Universes-has Gained Considerable Traction In Scientific Circles, Not As Science Fiction, But As An Explanation Of Physical Reality-- Machine Generated Contents Note: -- Book 1: Beginnings -- Introduction: The Story Of Q -- 1: Family Origins: A Sketch -- 2: Katharine: The Dark Star -- 3: The Scientist As A Young Man -- 4: Stranger In Paradise -- Book 2: Game World -- 5: Demigods -- 6: Decisions, Decisions-the Theory Of Games -- 7: Origin Of Mad -- 8: Von Neumann's Legacy -- Book 3: Quantum World -- 9: Quantum Everett -- 10: More On The Measurement Problem -- 11: Collapse And Complementarity -- 12: The Philosophy Of Quantum Mechanics -- Book 4: Everett And Wheeler -- 13: Wheeler: The Radical Conservative -- 14: Genesis Of Many Worlds -- 15: Alone In The Room -- 16: Tour Of Many Worlds -- 17: The Battle With Copenhagen, Part I -- 18: The Battle With Copenhagen, Part Ii -- 19: The Chapel Hill Affair -- Book 5: Possible World Futures -- 20: Preparing For World War Iii -- 21: From Wargasm To Looking Glass -- 22: Fallout -- Book 6: Crossroads -- 23: A Bell Jar World -- 24: A Vacation In Copenhagen -- Book 7: Assured Destruction -- 25: Everett And Report 50 -- 26: Everett And The Siop -- Book 8: Transitions -- 27: Behind Closed Doors -- 28: Death's Other Kingdoms -- Book 9: Beltway Bandit -- 29: Weaponeering -- 30: The Bayesian Machine -- 31: The Death Of Lambda -- Book 10: Many Worlds Reborn -- 32: Dewitt To The Rescue -- 33: Records In Time -- 34: Austin -- 35: Wheeler Recants -- Book 11: American Tragedy -- 36: The Final Years -- 37: Aftermath -- Book 12: Everett's Legacy -- 38: Modern Everett -- 39: Everett Goes To Oxford -- Epilogue: Beyond Many Worlds. Peter Byrne. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [399]-416) And Index.

Hugh Everett III's "Many Worlds" theory, of infinite multiple universes, is now considered a hugely important breakthrough in the history of physics.This book tells the story of the physics establishment's rejection of his theory, his subsequent Pentagon career in nuclear strategy, and his difficult personal life and eventual death from alcoholism.

2025-10-27